End closure for flexible collapsible tube



May 29, 1956 E. SZANTAY END CLOSURE FOR FLEXIBLE COLLAPSIBLE TUBE Filed April 14, 1955 United States Patent END CLOSURE FOR FLEIIEHBLE COLLAPSIBLE TUB Elmer Szantay, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Sandee Manufacturing Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illi- 11018 Application April 14, 1955, Serial No. 501,351

4 Claims. (Cl. 299104) The principal object of this invention is to provide an improved closure for the end of a flexible collapsible tube which is capable of quickly and effectively closing and sealing the same without the need for screws, bolts, nuts or the like and without the use of tools, which is readily removable and also adjustable to different positions along the tube, which is inexpensive to manufacture and install, which is simple and foolproof in construction and operation, and which may also effectively close and seal the end of a lawn soaker of the type comprising a flexible collapsible tube having integral flexible stabilizing fins.

Further objects of this invention reside in the details of construction of the end closure for the flexible collapsible tube and in the co-operative relationships between the component parts thereof.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the accompanying specification, claims and drawing in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a flexible collapsible tube, such as a lawn soaker of the type comprising a flexible collapsible tube having integral flexible stabilizing fins, with the end thereof closed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the lawn soaker illustrated in Fig. l and showing in more detail the end closure therefor.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a metallic plate having fingers which is utilized in the end closure.

This invention is directed to an end closure for flexible collapsible tubes and is applicable to all types of such tubes and for purposes of illustration herein it is shown for use with a lawn soaker generally designated at 10, it having particular utility in this respect. The lawn soaker 10 may be of the type shown and described in co-pending application Serial No. 382,248 filed September 25, 1953 by Elmer Szantay and Gibron M. Baccash. For purposes of illustration herein, the lawn soaker 10 comprises a flexible collapsible tube 11 provided with integral flexible stabilizing fins 12. When water pressure is exerted within the tube 11 it is extended to a circular shape, as illustrated, and the stabilizing fins 12- extend downwardly and outwardly for maintaining the tube 11 in an upright position. The top portion of the tube 11 is provided with a plurality of perforations 13 for spraying Water from within the tube 11 in a desired pattern. When the Water pressure within the tube 11 is relieved, the tube 11 may be readily collapsed and the fins 12 may be folded against the tube, as for example toward each other along the bottom of the tube. The tube and fins may be formed of any suitable fiexible collapsible material as, for example, a synthetic plastic material, such as vinyl chloride or the like.

Patented May 29, 1956 The closure for the end of the lawn soaker or tube 10 includes a single piece metallic plate 15 having a plurality of fingers as, for example, three fingers 16, 17 and 18 extending from one end edge 19 of the plate and also a plurality of fingers as, for example, three fingers 20, 21 and 22 extending from the opposite end edge 23 of the plate. The fingers 20, 21 and 22 are preferably in alignrnent with the fingers 16, 17 and 18, respectively, and they are substantially one-half of the length of the plate 15. The plate 15 and its fingers may be formed from any suitable bendable metal such as brass, steel or the like and in the latter case it is preferably surface treated so that it will not rust during use. The plate 15 and its fingers may be readily and inexpensively stamped from sheet stock.

In closing the end of the tube or lawn soaker 11, the end portion thereof is collapsed and the fins 12 thereat are folded toward each other and against the collapsed tube 11. The collapsed tube is sharply folded over a side edge 24 of the plate 15 with the continuing portion of the tube 11 overlying one face, as for example, the bottom face, of the plate 15 and with the terminating portion of the tube 11 overlying the other or top face of the plate 15. The folded fins 12 are outwardly disposed. The outer fingers 16, 18, 20 and 22 are then bent over from the opposed end edges 19 and 23 of the plate 15 in one direction against the fins 12 and the continuing portion of the tube overlying the lower face of the plate 15, and the inner fingers 17 and 21 are bent over from the opposed end edges 19 and 23 of the plate 15 in the opposite direction against the fins 12 and the terminating portion of the tube overlying the other or upper face of the plate 15. In this way the end portion of the tube or lawn soaker is sharply folded over the side edge 24 of the plate 15 and is securely clamped between the plate and fingers so as to close off and seal the open end of the tube whereby leakage through the open end of the tube is effectively prevented. This may all be done without the use of screws, bolts, nuts or the like and without the use of any tools, thus providing for simple and quick installation. The end closure of this invention is inexpensive to manufacture and it is simple and foolproof in construction and operation. Further, it may be readily removed and placed at different desired positions along the length of the tube or lawn soaker for regulating the effective length thereof. It may also be applied to other types of flexible collapsible tubes such as those not provided with flexible stabilizing fins.

While for purposes of illustration one form of this invention has been disclosed, other forms thereof may become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to this disclosure and, accordingly, this invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a closure for the end of a flexible collapsible tube, a single piece metallic plate having a plurality of fingers extending from one end edge of the plate and a plurality of fingers extending from the opposite end edge of the plate, said tube being collapsed adjacent its end and being folded over a side edge of the plate and overlying both faces of the plate, some of the fingers being bent over from the opposed end edges of the plate in one direction against that portion of the tube overlying one face of the plate and the other fingers being bent over from the opposed edges of the plate in the opposite direction against that portion of the tube overlying the other face of the plate, whereby the end portion of the tube is secured in folded condition and clamped between the plate and the fingers.

2. In a closure for the end of a lawn soaker comprising a flexible collapsible tube having integral flexible stabilizing fins, a single piece metallic plate having a plurality of fingers extending from one edge of the plate and a plurality of fingers extending from the opposite end edge of the plate, said tube being collapsed adjacent its end and the fins thereat being folded toward each other against the collapsed tube and the collapsed tube being folded over a side edge of the plate and overlying both faces of the plate with the fins outwardly disposed, some of the fingers being bent over from the opposed end edges of the plate in one direction against the fins and that portion of the tube overlying one face of the plate and the other fingers being bent over from the opposed edges of the plate in the opposite direction against the tins and that portion of the tube overlying the other face of the plate, whereby the end portion of the lawn soaker is secured in folded condition and clamped between the plate and the fingers.

3. In a closure for the end of a flexible collapsible tube, a single piece metallic plate being at least three fingers extending from one end edge of the plate and at least three fingers extending from the opposite end edge of the plate and in substantial alignment with the other fingers, said tube being collapsed adjacent its end and being folded over a side edge of the plate with the continuing portions overlying one face of the plate and with the terminating portion overlying the other face of the plate, the outer fingers being bent over from the opposed end edges of the plate in one direction against the continuing portion of the tube overlying said one plate face and the inner fingers being bent over from the opposed end edges of the plate in the opposite direction against the terminating portion of the tube overlying said other plate face, whereby the end portion of the tube is secured in folded condition and clamped between the plate and the fingers.

4. In a closure for the end of a lawn soaker comprising a flexible collapsible tube having integral flexible stabilizing fins, a single piece metallic plate having at least three fingers extending from one end edge of the plate and at least three fingers extending from the opposite end edge of the plate and in substantial alignment with the other fingers, said tube being collapsed adjacent its end and the fins thereat being folded toward each other against the collapsed tube and the collapsed tube being folded over a side edge of the plate with the continuing portion overlying one face of the plate, with the terminating portion overlying the other face of the plate and with the fins outwardly disposed, the outer fingers being bent over from the opposed end edges of the plate in one direction against the fins and the continuing portion of the tube overlying said one plate face and the inner fingers being bent over from the opposed end edges of the plate in the opposite direction against the fins and the terminating portion of the tube overlying said other plate face, whereby the end portion of the lawn soaker is secured in folded condition and clamped between the plate and the fingers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 673,658 Lawler May 7, 1901 2,084,544 Wilson June 22, 1937 2,705,662 Leonard Apr. 5, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,065,060 France Dec. 30, 1953 

